Carol Ann Bassett

Galapagos Islands used to be uninhabitable to humans, but now more humans live there than the islands can manage. But it is not only inhabitants that are having trouble living with nature, it is also tourist who flock to see the islands species diversity. Diversity that heavily influenced the idea of evolution. Diversity that is threatened by over extraction of fauna and the introduction of various invasive species. Due to the abundance of nutrient sources, the animals of Galapagos are tamer, a trait called ecological naivete or natural indifference. But that trait is a problem when their nutrient sources have changed, and others species have been introduced. The way the Galapagos Islands try to resolve their social, economic, and environmental problems will determine if the natural diversity of the islands can be sustained.

The islands live in an environmentally precarious balance. Changes in temperature by a few degrees can lead to extinction. This is an area that is hit by El Nino ad La Nina events, weather patters that heat or cool the waters. These events drastically change the circumstances of life on the islands. The vicissitudes benefit some species but hurt others, and then reserve for the alternative weather.

Galapagos Islands were found by Bishop Tomas de Berlanga and quickly became a haven for pirates. William Dampier was a pirate who wrote about the islands and influenced those who came after. Haven for pirates turned to haven for whalers. The islands started to have a stable population in the 1920s as people fled war-torn nations. More recently, most inhabitants of the islands have not been there for very long so alter their environment to fit to the environment that they were used to. Because the newcomers do not know about the ecological condition of the islands, they do not know how fragile the situation is, leading them to not following sustainable fishing and others preservation practices.

Tourism does bring in economic benefits but at a cost of environmental problems. Becoming a guide for the Galapagos Islands is an alternative path than fishing for an income. As fish populations have declined, many have become guides. But the requirement for guides was reduced which means that many guides do not know about Galapagos ecology. Those who fish have had regulations imposed to facilitate better fishing practices, but the fisherman retaliated by committing various piratical acts. The fragile ecology situation is up against fragile economic situation. Made worse by the unstable and usually corrupt politicians.

The species diversity of Galapagos Islands influenced the ideas of evolution. Darwin was not the first evolutionist as there were others before him such as Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. It would take time for Darwin to consider what he learned at the islands to be valid of proof of natural selection. All these ideas that were competing with religious beliefs. But the ideas of Darwin, and learning economic reasoning from Thomas Robert Malthus, lead to the understanding of adaptation in order to survive, to the theory of evolution by natural selection.
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I just finished this book in preparation for a trip to the Galapagos Islands and I thought it was, overall, great. Ms. Bassett clearly has a love for the islands and works hard at understanding the polemics at play as the islands try to move forward ~ the commercial industries (both illegal and legal), the human interests (both Galapaguenos and the mainland Ecuador folks) and of course, the destruction of the unique ecosystem(s) that is the Galapagos Islands. I felt incredibly more educated going into my trip and will try my best to be the eco-tourist I can be. I learned an enormous amount. I also applaud the author's effort because there is scant writing out there on the islands and what is and has been happening there. We all hear it is the last paradise and unique species abound (and Darwinism like some kind of God - so it was interesting to learn how little time and effort he spent there - and how much of it was cruel to the animals "in the name of science", i.e., let's throw iguanas and try to sink them, also sink tortoises and eat them all), but how little I knew about modern-day life and all of the destruction there boggles my mind. My only complaints are it is absurdly repetitive, although I know this is a method to make things "sink in" and that they did. I also wish there were more resources on how to help out at the end. I realize human habitation and even tourism is trying to be kept to a minimum, but there may be ways to help from across the seas, or to volunteer for NGOs/NFPs that desire help. Anyway, great book, learned a lot and highly recommend it to anyone who cares about the very fragile world of The Galapagos Islands.… (más)